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Iron Range plight at heart of White House visit
On Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough met privately in Virginia, Minnesota, with local officials, mining executives and Steelworkers. At issue was the major downturn in the American iron and steel industries related to a collapse in global prices. About 1,500 miners are laid off right now. One part of the problem is a glut…
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IRRRB OKs major Itasca broadband project
Today, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved a $1.25 million matching grant for the Paul Bunyan Communication broadband project in Itasca County. The funding secures a project that will connect 1,250 households, 3,500 people and up to 100 small businesses with service as fast as 1GB/second. The IRRRB vote was 7-1, with Sen.…
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U.S. places big tariffs on Chinese steel
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that U.S. regulators have slapped huge tariffs on foreign steel in response to accusations that some countries are “dumping” their products on the American market. “Dumping” means that companies sell the steel for less than it costs them to make it. This is possible in countries that subsidize their steel industry…
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Essar pays back $6 million to IRRRB
The Mesabi Daily News reports that Essar Steel Minnesota has paid back $6 million owed to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). The loan was part of the initial public financing for the project back in 2007. Though the agency was essentially calling the loan, Essar officials were the ones to tell the…
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Steelworkers reach tentative deal with U.S. Steel
The bargaining team for the United Steelworkers announced Saturday they had reached a tentative agreement with U.S. Steel. Though the union is not yet releasing details, the Steelworkers’ statement indicates that terms of the contract deal are better than what was being offered over the summer. From the statement: As you know, our industry is…
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Iron Range recovery requires connection to bigger world
Another winter day turns white in the woods of Northern Minnesota. Snow to shovel yet. Over in the sleepy mining towns, some excitement. Last night, the city of Virginia opted not to ask the group holding clothing-optional parties at the Coates Hotel to just go away. Lots of debate. 4-3 vote. “We need to bring…
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White House chief of staff to visit Iron Range
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough is coming to the Iron Range on Tuesday, Dec. 22. He will meet with laid off miners, local officials and others affected by the ongoing downturn in the local economy. These factors have been caused by a glut of global steel supply and cheap foreign imports. I have…
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FARGO REVIEW: Season 2 Finale, ‘Palindrome’
The tenth episode and “Fargo” Season 2 finale, entitled “Palindrome” aired last night on FX. What follows is a Minnesota-centric review that contains spoilers. This year, “Fargo” takes us to Southwestern Minnesota in 1979, the same year I was born on the other side of the state. A small town family crime syndicate based in Fargo…
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U.S. Steel, union to resume talks this week
The U.S. Steel Corporation and the United Steelworkers resume talks this week in Pittsburgh after a cooling off period. Union officials say the company has made a new offer and that they will review and discuss the offer at these new meetings. The union has said that U.S. Steel has been asking for serious concessions in…
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New ship to haul last grain of 2015 from Duluth
The last international grain ship of 2015 will arrive at the Port of Duluth, Minnesota, Sunday night or early Monday morning, according to officials with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. UPDATE: Due to high winds, the Federal Bering was forced to take shelter near the Apostle Islands. It is now expected Tuesday morning. The Federal Bering…
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RAMS hires Dicklich as state lobbyist
The Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) hired former executive director Ron Dicklich as its state lobbyist this past week, according to Bill Hanna in the Mesabi Daily News. You might recall RAMS at the center of a controversy last spring when State. Sen. David Tomassoni was hired to succeed Dicklich as executive direct despite…
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Essar still owes millions to Iron Range contractors
Major media outlets report that despite Essar’s payment of $20 million to local vendors after an ultimatum from Gov. Mark Dayton, the company still owes millions to contractors. Coverage includes offerings from the Star Tribune (Dee DePass story) and Minnesota Public Radio (Dan Kraker story). This matches recent casual conversations I’ve had with laid off construction workers and miners from nearby idled taconite plants. Vendors…
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How does a cool mayor leave office? With free concert
Duluth Mayor Don Ness will leave office this January after two successful terms as leader of Northern Minnesota’s biggest city during a time of economic diversification and growth. Before Mayor-elect Emily Larson takes the oath, however, Ness will give one more mayoral address. Not at city hall. Not at some hotel conference room, either. Ness…
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ANALYSIS: Rob Ecklund wins 3A race
Rob Ecklund was elected State Representative for Minnesota House District 3A Tuesday by a wide margin. The Koochiching County Commissioner and Boise Cascade union paper worker earned 64 percent of the vote to Republican Roger Skraba’s 19 percent and independent Kelsey Johnson’s 16 percent. Ecklund carried 80 of 83 precincts, losing a pair of small…
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NY Times paints grim picture for Iron Range mines
A business story in yesterday’s New York Times carries this headline: “If It Owns a Well or a Mine, It’s Probably in Trouble.” And since that describes many of the largest businesses on Northern Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range, we can rightly take warning. Companies that produce commodities — oil, iron, copper or the like —…